Means and method of packaging potato chips



7 May 9, 1944.

R. w. WHEELER MEANS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING POTATO GHIPS Filed Jan. 10,1941 1 IN vzw-rom 4 m wa- Patented May 9, 1944 'UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE MEANS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING POTATO CHIPS 7 Ralph W. Wheeler,Cleveland, Ohio Application January 10, 1941, Serial No. 373,987

Claims.

This invention, as indicated; relates to a means and method of packagingpotato chips and the like. More particularly it has in view theprovision of uniform sub-packages in a standard car-. ton, andresiliently supporting the contents of the carton, so as to avoid directshock and displacement with a resulting high percentage of breakage ofthe crisp potato chips or other like frangible articles. The inventionincludes the method of packing the potato chips in parallel horizontalposition in sub-packages and preventing the turning and breaking of themarginal chips, by resiliently holding the greater bulk of the contentsof each sub-package in resilient spaced relation edgewise at the sidesand ends, with reference to adjacent sub-packages and to the inner wallsof the carton. Chip breakage by shocks delivered edgewise to the chiplayers tends to rotate the contents and through theshifting weight ofthe mass behind the turned chips causes extensive fracturing of themarginal chips and starts further turning movement progressively.

The conditions of shipment and sale require inexpensive packaging and atthe same time adequate air-sealing to maintain the crisp dry freshnessof the product. Since potato chips are usually purchased for home use inbulk cartons, cans and bags, and used in fractional proportions of suchquantity, there oftenresults rapid deterioration of the product throughoxidation of the cooking oils comprising approximately 40% of the weightof the potato chips. It is desirable to subdivide the contents of thecarton and seal the same in separate air-tight bags of waxed paper, foiland the like, such bags preferably containing about four ounces of theproduct. Such bags when filled, like coffee bags, with full uncushionededgewise contact of the chips with the side walls of the carton wouldproduce the efiects above described and subject the potato chips toreduction in size with a high percentage of small fragments.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anindividual serving of potato chips mechanically undamaged anduncontaminated by reason of oxidation through enclosure in subpackageshaving cushioning effects when shipped in multiple with companion unitsin cartons of less cubic capacity than the full expanded subpackagecontainers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton and sub-packageto fit within said, carton in such manner that the contents will be heldagainst turning movement or mass shifting,

against marginal units in sufficient amount to cause injury to theproduct.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton having internalcubic capacity less in a predetermined amount than the full expandedcubic capacity of the sub-package units to be placed therein so that aplurality of inclined wall surfaces may be presented on all side and endareas of the sub-packages, with the cushioning effect thus provided for.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton of a size toreceive a predetermined number of sub-packages and to provide along twodimensions sub-packages of bellows-like or gabletype side and end wallsand with the remaining dimension transversely of said sub-packages beinga fixed dimension fitting closely in multiple with companionsub-packages between the walls of the carton.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means and method hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain means and methodsembodying the invention, such disclosed means and methods constituting,however, but several of various forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view broken away in part and showing a cartonenclosing four sub-packages or fractional containers;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the carton andsub-packages, as seen along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 with the right-handwall of the carton removed;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the carton and sub-packages as seenalong the line 3-3, Fig. 1, with the end wall of the carton removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an unfilled sub-package container;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a filled subpackage container showingthe bellows-typeside portions and projecting or gable end portions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form ofcarton having auxiliary bellows type side walls; and

Fig. -7 is a perspective view of a carton packed With three sub-packagesin vertical alignment.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawing the potato chippackage comprises a carton I within which are contained sub-packformedend I.

ages 2. The cartons are rigid or semi-rigid, and may be transparent,semi-transparent or opaque. The containers may be flexible orsemi-flexible, and of transparent, semi-transparent or opaque material.The sub-packages are bellows-type containers, the preferred units beingin the form of bags which when expanded to their full cubic capacityhave a greater cubic capacity than that of the carton, such excess cubiccapacity bein indicated in the dotted outline 3 shown in Figure 1. Byusing sub-packages in the form of oversize bag units, each looselyfilled, and such bags having one or two point line-contact with theinner walls of the carton, a cushioning effect for the contents of thecarbon is provided. Accordingly it will be noted that the individual bag2 shown in Figure 4 has an outward vshaped end 4 and bellows-type sides5 which when filled with potato chips as shown in Figure 5 has also agable shaped, or outwardly V- As is. more clearly shown in Figures '2and 3 the potato chips 6 do not contact the inner walls of the cartonover substantially the full extent of their lateral edge portionsthrough the V-shaped portions of the bag spacing such chips away fromthe side wall and causing the point of greatest pressure within thesub-package at a point removed from the side wall and thus associatedwith sufiicientresiliency of the mass to prevent fracture under thecustomary shocks of handling the package.

Thi action takes place at both the lateral edges of the individualbagsand at the ends of said bags, and results in the delivery of a productmechanically undamaged, as well as'through the air-sealing of theindividual bags in portions suitable for individual serving resulting inthe maintaining of the high percentage of cooking oils comprisingapproximately 40% of the weight of the potato chip from contaminationthrough oxidation.

Thecarton illustrated in Figure 1 is a'dapte to receive a pound ofpotato chips, and each subpackage within the same is designed to holdfour ounces. The carton illustrated is-ten inches square with a depth offive inches, and the sub-' package bags are approximately five inches inWidth and eleven inches in length and three inches in depth. Thu thesub-packages are of sufficient oversize to provide the proper angularrelation to the side walls and end walls of the carton. With a cartonand sub-packages of the relative size. set forth, four of the" fourounce subepack-ages may be placed in a number of different positionswithin the carton',.-but in every instance having. thelateral edgeportions of the potato chips protected against heavy shocks which wouldresult in breakageaof the product. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the bagsare posi tioned in pairs in parallel relation. This subdivision of thecontents of the package has the advantage of providing not only.external but internal cushioning for the potato chips, the inner bellowsportion 8, 9', shown in Figure 3 coactingto absorb severeshocksdelivered in substantially'anydirction- In-order to provide for shipmenthaving to experience unusually severe handling, or to' be shipped overextended distances, the carton itself may be provided withsuppl'mentalzinn'er walls" in the manner shown in FigureG. In this typeof container the carton H has attached to, or associated witli, thesidewalls iii and I3 thereof suppleilnental walls" Hi, F5; respectively,having inwardly directed V-shaped portionsadapted to fit in within thebellows side portions of the sub-package bags. The end walls may beprovided with attached or'associated complementary supplemental walls Itwith at least one inwardly projecting portion ll to interfit between thegable ends of the respective packages, heretofore described, to securelyhold the same during shipment. The end supplemental wall may be securedto the inner faces of the folding end enclosures of the carton and willthus readilymove into holding position for the sub-packages, In anyevent the supplemental side walls will not extend into the extremecorners of the carton in order to leave the gable ends of the individualunits free to fill the full width of the end portions of the cartons.

While ordinarily an even number of bags would be placed within thecarton the invention nevertheless is applicable to the packaging of anodd number of bags, as is clearly shown in Figure '7, wherein the cartonI8 is disclosed as holding three sub-packages I9. In each of the subpackages the sideand end portions are held in shapeto' serve asresilient cushioning mom-- hers by reason of such containers being ofsuitable oversize in relation to the cubic capacity of the carton.

Through the use of sub-packages ofthe character hereinabove set forthfresh potato chips may be insured for the user at all times in suitablesub-packages, and such sub-package's when opened Will be substantiallyfree of break age or reduction to small fragments of the con tents, asnot infrequently happens when bull packages ofpotato chips are givensevere treatmerit in shipping.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of those explained, change being made as regards the means andsteps herein disclosed, provided the meansstated by any of the followingclaims or the'e'c uiw alent of such stated means be employed. I Itherefore particularly point out and di'stin'ctv ly claim as myinvention:

1. A method of packaging potato chips which includes the steps ofproviding carton determined size to receive a number of sub-packages incollapsible flexible bags of teuews type structure, the bag size beingfixed in transverse dimensions; but variable in lengthand thickness soas to have a cubic capacity in excess ofthe cubic capacity of the"container, when fully ex:-

panded, and provide resilient lateral and endw'ise cushions when looselyfilled and engaged within the restricted size carton.

2; A method of packaging potato chips which includesthe steps ofinserting said chips-in sub stanti-ally parallel horizontal positionwithin unit containers having bellows type side portions and. gable typeend portions providing resilient cush ions completely around the edgesof said units and thereafter placing said units within acone tainer fora multiple number of said units-whereby: said units will haveline-contact with atleast two inner walls of said container and becushe;

31 A package for potato chips which a' carton of square outline asviewed inplan and of one-half the dimension of such square in-h'e'iglit, four sub-package units of bellows type structure of normallyoversiz'e' cubic" capacity collectively iii relation to the cubiccapacity of the same, providing line-contacts around all of its lateraledges and spacing the side walls of said units from contact with theinner Wall portions of said carton.

4. A package for potato chips having in combination, a carton, aplurality of sub-containers within each of which said potato chips areplaced, said sub-containers being of bellows type structure and of alight flexible character and a uniform transverse width representing onedimension or a sub-multiple thereof of said carton and having its othertwo dimensions of oversize as to the dimension of such carton or asub-multiple thereof whereby the lateral edges of said sub-packages willhave line-contact with the Walls of the car ton, and with the adjacentportions of said subpackages and said sub-containers collectively willpresent resilient cushioning elements to space substantially the entirecontents of the carton from full contact with the side walls.

5. A package for potato chips having in comlectively will presentresilient cushioning elements to space substantially the entire contentsof the carton from full contact with the side walls, and supplementalpositioning means associated with at least two of the inner walls ofsaid container to have full surface contact with said units intermediatethe points of line-contact of said units with the container walls.

RALPH W. WHEELER.

